Wildcliff Nature Reserve: Restoration Ecology

We have dug a new pond at Wildcliff, in a marshy area of former cattle pasture below the Talari house. Alex Dowding, in charge of planning the vegetation for this pond, comments as follows:

The indigenous willow, Salix mucronata should be planted on the island. Another local species, the fever tree Acacia xanthophloea, can be used to stabilise the dam walls along with the other trees that I would like to use such as Syzygium cordatum and Phoenix reclinata which are both ideally suited to that purpose, thriving in permanently boggy soils. These trees, when planted on the top of the dam wall, will prevent erosion, create a shaded and sheltered environment for certain types of plants and provide a good backdrop for the dam, protecting it from the prevailing wind ie. south westerly. They will also interlink when mature providing a ‘corridor’ for shy animals and birds to move between. These particular trees also bear fruit to which a myriad of animals will be attracted ie. birds, baboons, bushpigs.

While selecting plants for the dam I did bear in mind the local conditions and am sure all of those chosen will thrive; they will also provide colour throughout the year. The design concept that I’m going for will imitate the two main habitats required to maximise the diversity of wildlife we can attract. For instance the corridor on the western side with its more protected nature will provide habitat for certain species, while the more open approach on the eastern side (Talari) will aim to attract species which require a good field of vision and spatial awareness such as herons, hamerkop and other waterfowl.

The aquatic plants namely Aponogeton distachyos and Nymphaea caerulea should eventually cover at least half of the dam’s surface area to reduce sunlight levels and thereby limit the amount of algal growth. Many of the bulbous species should self seed or multiply themselves.

I will be able to find a few plants especially the reeds, papyrus, rush and arum lilies for transplanting around the dam. The Phragmites australis (reeds) and both Cyperus spp. (Papyrus) will spread quickly, but are vital parts of any wetland habitat and I think the dam is large enough that these won’t take over any time soon although some cutting back may be required in the years to come. I will also see if I can get hold of some Vallisneria aethiopica, a submerged, mat-forming plant that spreads by stolons and is an excellent oxygenator which absorbs excess minerals that would otherwise benefit algae.

In one of my better books about water gardens it says that one should always leave one side of the dam/pond with an open approach for birds. This can be planted with low growing plants like small bulbs and groundcovers.

The matter of fish. All indigenous fish are protected species and one must obtain a permit with any indigenous fish that are purchased and they also need to be from a registered dealer. Fish suitable for Western Cape ponds include Cape Galaxias (Galaxias zebrata), Banded Tilapia (Tilapia sparrmanii) and Cape Kurper (Sandelia capensis). These species are voracious feeders and very good at keeping down the levels of mosquito larvae which will be helpful.

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